Opening the SEC slate today is Arkansas’s visit to Kentucky, where Mark Cook has stated that the goal for Arkansas is to get five people up on each event, which is also the most depressing thing I’ve ever heard.

Something I hadn’t realized until now, because wins and losses don’t matter in the slightest, is that Auburn remains winless this season. Still might be nice to get one of those win thingies? It’s doable against Missouri, even on the road. Scores also remains a concern for Auburn. Theoretically, Auburn could move as high as #14 this week, but Auburn also has the lowest max RQS of any team in the top 20, meaning their ranking is at the mercy of the other teams.

Team

Current RQS

Max RQS
on Monday

Ranking
outlook

#1 Oklahoma

197.990

198.110

safe #1

#2 LSU

197.695

197.775

safe #2

#3 Florida

197.495

197.665

#3-#4

#4 UCLA

197.305

197.565

#3-#6

#5 Utah

197.180

197.430

#4-#6

#6 Alabama

197.085

197.310

#4-#6

#7 Denver

196.875

196.910

#7-#8

#8 Georgia

196.820

196.930

#7-#8

#9 Boise State

196.700

196.700

#9-#11

#10 Oregon State

196.635

196.750

#9-#12

#11 Kentucky

196.535

196.705

#9-#12

#11 Michigan

196.535

196.655

#10-#12

#13 Nebraska

196.450

196.450

#13-#14

#14 Iowa

196.150

196.315

#14-#20

#15 Missouri

196.145

196.325

#14-#20

#16 GW

196.140

196.290

#14-#20

#17 Washington

196.130

196.500

#13-#20

#18 Auburn

196.090

196.220

#14-#20

#19 Cal

196.000

196.305

#14-#22

#20 Illinois

195.995

196.230

#14-#22

#21 Southern Utah

195.915

196.030

#19-#23

#22 Utah State

195.830

195.955

#21-#25

#23 Arizona

195.680

195.860

#22-#29

#24 Eastern Michigan

195.670

195.805

#23-#29

#25 Ohio State

195.595

196.010

#19-#30

In earliest action, Towson is one to keep an eye on. Towson’s current ranking of 43rd isn’t glamorous, but with a 193.0 still to drop, Towson would move right into the pack challenging for regionals spots with even a 195 flat today, which should be an achievable score.

When you hit refresh on the live scores even though you know they auto-refresh and it’s not even temporally possible for another routine to have taken place since the last refresh.

I appreciate the Pitt feed trying to move around and show us everyone, though I have no idea who’s going for any of these teams at any given time. I did appreciate Gillette’s body position on her double pike and double tuck for WVU. Other observations: Pitt has a somewhat competitive vault lineup of fulls. Also, the floor scoring is tight. I love it, but there are meets where these WVU mid-lineup 9.6s would go 9.8. And being out of range with the national standard becomes a problem when judging meets that are going to decide teams’ regional fates.

Also, this Pitt PA announcer has a slight sarcastic lilt in enunciation style when saying people’s names, which just sounds annoyed at all of their existences, so I’m enjoying that.

This child posting the bars scores cannot get herself together. 9.065 is not a score.

Kentucky and Arkansas have started, not that the commentators were paying attention.

Anderson – UB – catches jaeger, good elbow extension – a couple handstands and moments of leg breaks – good final cast handstand, a little late on giant full, hop in place on double tuck. 9.775.

Garner – UB – high gienger, catches somewhat close – good casts – great form and height on tuck full, step back. 9.825.

Davis – VT – has the amplitude on her full, hop up and in place. 9.875.

Yamzon – UB – clear hip to tkatchev, flat but caught – hitting her cast handstands pretty well, good toe point on her bail as well – DLO 1/1, some piking at the end with a bound forward.

Dukes – VT – bounces forward on her y1/2 this time

Speed – UB – toe 1/2 – very very high on that jaeger, does catch a little close – clean legs through the bail – excellent casts – sticks tuck full with a little stagger. Good one.

Stuart – VT – somewhat short on her full this time with a step forward, shouldn’t be a particularly high score.

MacMoyle – UB – her usual set, they’re getting a routine out of her, but she struggles with the toe point and the verticals, particular on the bail. Large lunge forward out of DLO after landing short.

Korth – VT – quite short on her 1.5 this time with a multi-step stumble back.

A couple good ones but not ideal landings overall for Kentucky in this rotation. Missed out on some important scores toward the end because of landing deductions.

Burton – UB – shap to bail – legs pretty well together throughout – a bit of looseness and inexact positions here and there – giant full to double tuck, hop.

They got through. They’ll be able to drop the MacMoyle score, but Yamzon got kind of a low number (probably mostly due to the dismount) that will have to count.

After 1: Kentucky 49.000, Arkansas 48.925

These handstand contests they do at meets. You always have a bunch of little kids who are like “THIS WOULD BE FUN” and then that one girl who’s legit a decade older than the rest of them and is like, “I’ve been doing gymnastics for 460 years and could be here all day.” This isn’t for you, girl.

Rotation 2:
This commentator pronounces “doesn’t” as “dudin” and sometimes just “done.”

Rathjen – VT – some piking, bounce back on full.

Carlisle – UB – Kentucky has only three juniors. OH MY GOD. Jaeger, some feet – clean through the bail, hits vertical – deep landing on stuck full but holds the stick well enough. 9.875 already?

Yamzon – VT – hop back on full, similar piking to Rathjen, will also get hit for amplitude but good distance.

“Their anchor position, their kickoff position.” WHAT ARE YOU?

Coca – UB – they’re honing these bails well – some feet on jaeger but a solid catch – she does stick her tuck full without the squat of Carlisle. 9.900.

Anderson – VT – excellent distance on her full, loses her legs at the end with a pike over on landing. Best dynamics so far.

Dukes – UB – excellent vertical positions into a Tkatchev, flat – high pak but some leg form breaks – cast handstands all very precise – whips around a DLO with a step back.

Elswick – VT – she’s back on vault. Doesn’t get her full all the way flipped, lands short with a step to the side and off the mat.

Stuart – UB – tkatchev and bail, solid – just a tad less vertical than the first couple on her handstand positions – NAILS a DLO 1/1. Excellent stick.

Speed – VT – great open, hop back on full, loses her legs a little in the air.

Hyland – UB – arches an early cast handstand – not too much – gienger, somewhat close on the catch – also hits her bail well – holds the stick on the tuck full with a lean.

MacMoyle – VT – comes in crunched on her full with a lunge back. Speed had a good one, but this won’t be a very high rotation score overall.

Korth – UB – a little rushed in an early handstand, good contained piked jaeger, but feet – just arching a couple handstands as she goes for them – bail – small hop on DLO 1/1 dismount, good shape on it.

Well, I was not nearly as enthusiastic about that Kentucky bars rotation as the judges were. They had excellent dismount landings, which accounted for the scores. I wish we saw a little more in the toe department on releases.

After 2: Kentucky 98.325, Arkansas 97.600

Meanwhile, at the Nastia Cup, Rothlisberger, Tim, and Nastia are speaking without sound. It’s the best they’ve ever sounded.

NLC: Andrea Li vaulted a full, clean, some piking, step back. Would get 9.800 in NCAA. “Giving her a few words of advice going into Anna Li.” WHAT. Also, continue speaking about Anna like she’s dead, please.

Korth (?) up second on beam for Kentucky with a fall on her series.

Elswick – FX – lunges back out of a double pike, just does stay in bounds but misses on the control – 1.5 to layout is solid.

Commentator note: Never begin a sentence with “here’s what people don’t understand.”

Anderson – FX – step back on double pike, fine, some leg spearation – 1.5 to layout, not quite as straight as Nelson in the positions, losing her knees to mushiness at times – good contained tuck shape on double tuck –

NLC: Flam (Stanford 2017-2018) has some moments of crazy legs on bars but she can go into that lineup next year definitely – has a DLO 1/1.

Dukes – BB – check on her loso series – lovely shapes on switch and straddle 1/4 but another check landing that, some tight moments in thsi lineup –

Garner – FX – she’s the one who has to step into this lineup to give them a 5th. Fine double pike, just a lunge back, normal – wolf position could be higher – this routine is mostly leaps, a couple indistinct landings but fine – she has nice leaps on beam so that’s a smart way to get a routine together for her. Just layouts as her other pass. So we see why she wasn’t in the lineup before because she just doesn’t have the content, but they threw a ton of leaps in there to give them something. 9.3 is better than zero.

Hyland – BB – switch with small check to split jump, good positions and they’ll give her the combo – aerial to bhs loso, smooth and extended – side aerial to her usual stuck tuck full. Good one, just a check and a hesitation in there.

Kentucky still gets a 49 on beam despite a shaky rotation. Arkansas has to take 48.525 on floor.

NLC: Stevens (Auburn) has a Ray and bail on bars – too many breaks in this routine to get a big score, DLO – they could work with that, though.

Speaking of Auburn, Auburn and Missouri about to get going. Sloan on the commentary.

Missouri: Huber – VT – nice dynamics on a full – very large bounce back – “great landing,” says Bridget.

Auburn: Becker – UB – good distance on jaeger, struggles a bit on the next handstand – will get docked for lack of vertical on the bail – clean shape on DLO, step back.

Auburn: Engler – UB – great first hs – falls on jaeger – OH AUBURN. Auburn counting a fall on bars now, which means today will not be the needed score.

Arkansas: Nelson – BB – crsip and controlled on lsoo series – hits her split and straddle – punch front a little deep but controls the landing well – 1.5 with a hop.

Missouri goes 49.150 on vault, Auburn 48.350 on bars. Guh.

Stuart finishes FX for Kentucky with a rudi, a little flat with a step.

Arkansas: Speed – BB – switch 1/2 with a beat jump, checkish in combo – check on loso series as well, both small – side aerial, lovely legs and extension throughout – gainer full.

Hyland really loses her legs on her layout at the end of her final pass. Just a few breaks at the end of these routines taking away the scores, similar to last week, though they’re still getting 9.8s this time.

Burton comes through with a hit on beam for Arkansas – her tight straddle 1/4 will be a point of deductions – but sticks 1.5. Another “One thing the fans may not understand…” it’s a live stream of a gym meet on a Friday night. Pretty sure they understand.

Better positions from Dukes for Kentucky, chest down on double tuck but controls her landings well and hits her dance element positions.

Auburn: Scaglione – FX – “What people don’t realize” – pretty front double full to punch front, front layout to front full – sliding/lunging on both passes but proper twisting shape. How many times are we going to talk about her STRUGGLES WITH PERSONALITY – double tuck, small correction step – nice.

Missouri: Schugel – BB – falls on loso series, took it RIGHT to the end of the beam

Auburn: Hlawek – FX – gorgeous twisting shape and complex first combo pass – nails double tuck as well – hits her split positions – front full to front layout, also nails the landing, could be higher on that combo but really an excellent routine, quite pretty.

Ward hits beam for Missouri so they’ll be able to drop that fall and get a huge beam score. She gets another 9.950. When did this 9.950 thing for her beam start?

Auburn: Rott – FX – excellent shape in DLO, slide back – front lay to half to layout to stag, pretty shapes, does travel on it, but I love watching that pass – large slide back on double pike. If only she could get the passes under control because there’s nothing to take for form.

After 3: Missouri 147.825, Auburn 146.650

Time for Utah and Stanford now.

NLC: Lukacs has a check on a kickover front on beam. Georgia has actually figured out beam this year, which denies me the opportunity to say GET TO GEORGIA RIGHT NOW. I mean, still though.

Intros at Utah. There’s a bird. Everyone’s smiling. The usual.
Baely Rowe is already crying. Don’t worry about it. She is literally wearing a Michael Jackson glove, you guys.

“She’s ready to moonwalk one last time.” Why is this making me laugh so hard. Also really thought they were just going to make her moonwalk just everywhere tonight.

What if Baely Rowe fell on the moonwalk tonight? Also, that’s basically the worst part of all four of her routines. But I guess you can’t wear a “completely vertical finish on a giant full on bars” so there’s this instead…

Oh this takes me back. It’s been a couple years since I’ve actually watched the Utah intro rigamarole. We don’t have to now with the P12 Network. It used to be every week.

NLC: The Michigan gymnasts are really stealing the show – Heiskell and Wojcik are super clean gymnastics.

Baely Rowe just stuck a full that’s probably the best one she has ever done.

N McNair just a hop back on a tuck full.

Lee – VT – Utah – small slide back on a full and then another step back on salute, but a good one – high.

Merrell – VT – bound forward on her 1.5 this time, but better control than sometimes. Loses her knees and then a one-tenth bound, so I could still see this going 9.850.

D McNair – UB – catcher her jaeger comfortably – a little late on a half turn in there but otherwise not too much to take – near-stick on DLO with a slide. Solid.

Lewis – VT – shoulder-sized step back on her full but stays extended throughout and opens a little at the end.

Daum – UB – legs on bail but better than sometimes – close on tkatchec catch but good height – one borderline handstand – hop back on double arabian dismount – she is figuring out this routine.

Skinner – VT – one of her better DTY landings, smaller hop back this time – could just take 0.050 on that landing instead of the full tenth. You can also take for piking at the end but I doubt they will because DTY.

Maxwell – UB – short opening handstand, strong position on the bail – really just the handstands to take, there’s not much other content in the routine – sticks double tuck.

McNatt – VT – Omelianchik – MUCH better than last week – small hop forward, they’ll also take for tucking at the end.

Price – UB – good first hs – Shap to clear hip, solied – Chech to bail, nails vertical, excellent – hitting handstands – small slide back on the DLO this time, but otherwise it’s her usual crisply vertical routine. It goes 9.950, which will be very frustrating to her because she didn’t stick and that’s what she usually gets for a stick.

After 1: Utah 49.425, Stanford 49.125
Improvement on the landings from Utah is the story of the first rotation. That was a step toward postseason level with fewer and smaller bounces than we’ve seen in recent meets.

Final: Missouri 197.200., Auburn 195.400No joy for Auburn there.

Rotation 2:
Daum is vaulting – hop back on a full –

Merrell – UB – toe to Deltchev, solid a little crazy in form at the very end – pikes a little to catch her bail – double tuck with a step.

Cole – VT – comes in short on a full as she does sometimes, lunge forward, and then off line.

Yu – VT – holds the stick on her full with a lean – good distance – some piking at the end – best of the rotation so far.

Lewis – UB – full a little late this time but not too bad – tkatchev – vertical on the bail – step back on DLO and a couple cast handstands were a little arch-flopped. It should be a straight body position up to vertical, not an arch.

Price – VT – gorgeous full, stuck, excellent – great amplitude, nailed landing. We’ll see if they take a little for piking to see if it goes 9.900 or 9.950. One of each. 9.925.

Rowe – UB – starts with a dead hang but works up to handstand well – good giant full – a little hip angle in the bail – hitting her casts – hop back on DLO. Good set. Not her strongest. Not the 10 they were trying to give her.

49.300 for Utah on bars. It’s a fine score but not really the rotation they were hoping for in the landing department. Only one stick, from Skinner, and that was kind of deeper, especially from this above angle.

Also, Skinner and Price got the same score on bars. The end.

After 2: Utah 98.725, Stanford 98.250

Isn’t it nice to have Price in these lineups? She is accounting for Stanford being over 196 pace, and they will take that. The performance isn’t challenging Utah, but if they stay on this pace, it will be their best showing of the season.

In NLC town, Kai Rivers (LSU) is going to take this unless Wojcik (Michigan) gets a score on bars that they haven’t been giving out today.

Rotation 3:
Stover – BB – nearly overturns her full turn but fine – aerial to bhs, slow in connection, no errors on individual skills – check on switch split, will have to redo a leap series – does straddle to straddle 1/4 – split ring jump – sticks gainer full – a couple checks in there, so not her cleanest but good.

H Hoffman – FX – bounce back out of double tuck – front layout front full, keeps that back foot down in lunging out of it – rudi, fine – not the most amplitude, some knee form in passes but no major issues. Bounce back on first pass was the biggest thing.

Merrell – BB – switch to split, short of 180 on the split this time – two bhs to loso series and falls – angled on the skill and never had a chance – that was very 2016 of her, she had been much more comfortable on her beam acro this season – step on 2/1.

Cole – FX – 2.5 to front, very good this time, controls landing well – that straddle jump – secure double tuck as well – switch ring to split full, pretty useful positions – just comes in short on the front pike on her last pass with a step back, but probably her best until that final pass.

Reinstadtler – BB – aerial to bhs, well extended – switch to straddle 1/4, fine – she could be quicker in combination but the execution is superb – check on a full turn, dear – hop back on gainer full. Good for her to hit after all fall. There’s about one skill in this routine, but she gets her bonus.

N Hoffman – FX – back in the floor lineup – double back opening pass, chest down and a lunge to the side – hits her dance elements well enough – 1.5 to front tuck that got one inch off the ground but she pulled it to her feet somehow – it won’t be a big score, largely because of lack of amplitude, but it gives them a routine.

Skinner – BB – secure loso series, legs – side aerial to split combo, no trouble there – switch to split, short on the split jump – L turn, secure, drops a little early but it will be fine – straddle jump to back tuck, large check and a total swim but turns her swim correction into silly wavy choreography – that’s legit the most I’ve ever liked Skinner – double tuck, short with a lunge forward. Not a strong routine but bonus personality points for the wave-save. One judge still gave 9.800 you guys. Basically not even mathematically possible. 9.750.

Daum – FX – solid double back to start – 1.5 to layout – shortish on the switch ring but her tumbling is the most comfortable and controlled of the lineup so far, and she’ll be rewarded for that. Not the biggest acro but proficient.

Lee – BB – Smooth full turn – bhs loso, extended, crisp – switch to straddle 1/4, secure – beat jump to a CRAZY short side aerial that she kept on the beam somehow, probably because she’s a witch – sticks 2/1. Still basically shocked she kept that side aerial on the beam. She had no business not falling. Great save.

Rowe – BB – switch to straddle 1/4, can take for lack of split – bhs bhs loso series with a check, lean to the side – hop on 1.5. Good one, but checks. She’s basically having a crying nervous breakdown about it. Because senior things. Girl, you still have to do floor.

49.100 for Utah on beam. With a fall and some rather significant errors, they’ll take it and run. Stanford shows five on floor, because Stanford, but it’s a 49.075 (over 49!) because of the Price 9.950. Can we just throw Price into the beam lineup this week to get her a giant AA score? No?

After 3: Utah 147.825, Stanford 147.325

Rotation 4:
Fitzgerald – BB – makes a meal of that full turn, but no trouble – hitch kick to front aerial to two feet – does well to save witha hop forward instead of a wobble – beat to split jump 3/4 – aerial to bhs as her series, small lean in combination that apparently no one cares about – sticks 1.5.

Roberts – FX – small slide on double pike, chest down but not too much – front lay to rudi, great rise into that rudi, that’s how combo passes should look – wolf position less so – 1.5 to half to stag. Good start.

Yu – BB – solid loso series – great height and 180 on switch 1/2, but a check landing it – full turn – split to wolf, amplitude on dance elements is a highlight in this one – side aerial to full, hop in place.

Lewis – FX – bouncy on the double pike landing but not too bad – I’m fine that they’ve scrapped the E pass for her, the double pike is better – front lay to front full, good control on landing, a little arched in that first front lay – chest down double tuck but solid. 9.900 for her.

The problem with rising scores isn’t the one for Reinstadtler, it was a great routine, but that it sets the bar high so that they feel they have to go high for Lewis as well, even though her routine was not as good.

Daum – BB – judging discussion – Yu did not get a 10.0 start – hits loso series – comes in short on aerial with a check to save it – split to sheep – step back 1.5 but a good hit.

Merrell – FX – bounce back on piked full in and goes OOB, looked close but the flag went up – switch ring, front leg a little down on that once she hits the ring – 2.5 to front tuck, crossed legs in twist but controlled landing – rudi to straddle – they’ll want to drop because of the OOB.

Skinner – FX – They’re putting Skinner fifth to get Rowe a 10 on senior night, but I actually don’t mind that strategy at all for normal meets as well – good control on double double, chest down – hits her 180 on split leap 1.5 – 1.5 to 2/1, good, piking at the end of the 2/1 – full in with a small slide back. Will be a huge score, though. And…it’s a 10. For that one. Of all the ones. She legit slid back on her last pass.

Tai – BB – did the rare, back handspring, back handspring, layout stepout dismount? Fell, got no part of her body on the beam on that layout stepout. Stanford will count Yu’s lower score but it’s still a 196+ total, which they’ll take.

Rowe – FX – Crying before she starts – hop back on double pike but fine – back 2/1 to loso, crossed legs but good extension and height in loso – 1.5 to layout with a lunge forward. Impressive to hit a floor routine while in tears throughout. 9.975. Well no. The 10 judge just wanted to give her a 10 regardless of routine. No. The problem is when judges try to create storylines or insert themselves into proceedings. That’s not your job. Just say what you see.

Final: Utah 197.500, Stanford 196.275

Fine, OK meet for Utah. Improvements on vault most of all. Floor was strong. They won’t be pleased with the bars landings or the beam performance, though.

Stanford breaks 196 as well, encouragingly with a showing that was not peak performance on beam and didn’t have full use of McNairs.

In other news, Southern Utah just got a 197.

Also NC State got a 191. Yikes. NC State developed a severe case of the Arkansas so quickly I didn’t even notice.

Of note in the in-progress weekly rankings, Utah temporarily moves into 4th. UCLA takes the spot back with a 197.100 tomorrow. Missouri goes up to 14th on the back of that 197, and SUU moves to 19th with its own. It’s really all about the road scores for SUU. Those home scores are gigantic. West Virginia goes to 23rd, and Stanford soars up to 26th, which is almost like a real ranking.

I was at the Pitt quad meet and the scoring on floor especially was very tight. Zaakira Muhammad had a beautiful floor routine (the only error I saw was a slightly short landing on her second pass), and I was expecting at least a 9.8-9.85, but she got 9.7 from one judge (9.75 overall), which was really confusing. And there were quite a few other routines that I thought were judged harshly. I guess I’m just so used to inflated SEC scoring that it seemed really tight. It will be interesting to compare to next weekend as both West Virginia and Pitt are facing SEC teams (WV is at Florida and Pitt is at Auburn).

Wait–is this Bridget Sloan commenting? Whoever it is is not gaining credibility for herself. Do they get some kind of directive when on the conference networks? Because otherwise saying things are great when they so are not is just bad reporting.

Yeah, I’ve found that one conference network in particular tends to exclusively point out the positives and ignores the negatives. I find this to be kind of unfair to casual fans who don’t know the intricacies. When all you hear is: “Nice first handstand, beautiful Tkachev, and she stuck the landing,” and you aren’t familiar enough with the sport to be able to see the errors on your own, you’d probably wonder how she ended up with a 9.85 when all of the things that the commentator said were about her doing things right. You’d probably think she should have gotten a 10. It really would clear things up if they’d add in: “There’s a leg separation on that pak salto, that pirouette was late, and she missed that final handstand.”

It’s how most commentators start out. Name the skill. Beautiful. Skill. Skill. Skill. Beautiful. Some of my current faves started out that way. Annoying, but hopefully she’ll learn how to say something useful soon.

The first time I heard that, in the general ‘4 gymnasts on the team are adopted’ way, I was like, cool that’s an interesting trivia tidbit. But the level of detail about who/where tonight weirded me out, like it might be followed up with a commercial for an adoption agency.

I really appreciate Utah for live streaming this meet that is not being televised. And when I say live streaming, I mean live streaming for free on a non-sketchy website. Other schools (I’m looking at you, Oklahoma) could really learn from this.

Ok ok Utah overscoring it’s everywhere but like in a meet with Elizabeth price, skinner ties her? Sorry that’s too much. (It bothers me less in meets where there isn’t a person like Ebee that should be separated from)

I like having this side view on the bars. This way, I can see what the judges see. Now we can confirm that the judges can actually see Skinner’s leg break, at least when it’s like it was tonight, which is not as good as it has been at other times this season as far as keeping her legs together on the shap.

Clearly, you have some issue with UCLA. Nearly all of your comments on this live blog have been complaints about UCLA. You’re correct, UCLA gets overscored. So does Utah, Florida, Oklahoma, and pretty much every other team in this year of astronomical scores. You’re correct that Kocian gets more than her fair share of overly generous scores. So do Skinner, Ross, Nichols, Gowey, and Hundley. No need to bring up a UCLA overscore every time someone mentions an overscore in this meet. If you look at the UCLA meet live blogs (as well as all other live blogs) you’ll notice that people call out the overscores in those meets too. This isn’t an angry attack on Utah. Everybody here recognizes that every team’s scores are just as crazy as Utah’s.

Eh, I’d have been cool with a 9.875 or even a 9.9. I just feel that pretending like there was only one deduction in that routine was overly generous. However, they’ve been pretty reasonable on the rest of the judging, so I’m hopeful that we won’t start handing out 9.9+ scores like candy in these last two rotations,

Its refreshing to watch NLC where JO scoring actually takes deductions. I can see how the JO system wouldn’t fly in NCAA, because there are no 10’s, but it would be nice to see NCAA scoring move towards JO style, so more deductions are actually taken, and the best, closest to perfect, can score 10.

It’s nice to see Stanford hitting floor, but without the tumbling implosions, their routines are such a snooze. You really shouldn’t have high energy music if you are just going to accompany it with uninspired arm waving.

I feel like the entire Stanford team is sleepwalking through their floor choreo. They have these routines with upbeat music (Britney Spears, Bruno Mars) and they’re almost walking to each pose. Is it just because they’re at an away meet?

No. They’re always like that. They’re very low key. It can unfortunately read as low energy, especially when they’re competing against the Sec, Utah or UCLA. Also, they lack s certain amount of performance.

I just watched the video and Ebee’s landing looked stuck. Such a bummer she can’t get that 10-I’ve always thought she had the best bars in NCAA. And Simba Cam? My husband walked by and said “That is not a thing. And why are all these babies at a meet any-… Oh, Utah.” 🙂

How in the heck did Skinner receive a 9.75 for that? I saw two short splits in leaps/jumps, the lunge and low chest on the landing, and then obviously that two-second-long balance check. Utah fans better stop carrying on about that one time Kyla Ross had a massive balance check and was overscored and Utah still won.

Actually, no. That comment about the Utah fans was only in response to their insane reaction across multiple internet platforms about one routine in one meet that they won anyway. I was watching that meet live, and in the moment, I too got a little heated at such a crazy score for such a big error in Ross’s routine. I just don’t understand why they continued to be so upset for days afterward about a score that they knew, by that point, didn’t really matter at all. I get that they are passionate about Utah gymnastics, but the reaction was over the top. Was the score ridiculous? Of course! She certainly didn’t deserve such a high score for such a massive balance check. Does it matter at all in the scheme of things after you already know that Utah has won that meet and that one score being a tenth or two too high isn’t going to wildly upset the rankings? Certainly not. I love Utah and think they completely deserve their #5 rank (although apparently other commenters don’t agree). I look forward to watching them do a great job at nationals and continue their excellent tradition of beautiful, well-executed gymnastics. I just don’t understand why that commenter felt the need to bring up UCLA in response to every comment about a high score in this meet. That person seemed to think the commenters on this site have a bias against Utah when in fact it’s more just noticing that all schools (including both UCLA and Utah) have received quite a few overly generous scores this season.

Aside from a few spot routines, I’m really not a fan of Utah. They don’t look like #5 in the country to me. Also, people always complain about SEC scoring (including Greg Marsden), but come on, Pac12 is just as bad. UCLA and Utah have been given many gifts this season. Why can’t people just accept that if you’re a top team with multiple super stars, you are going to get the benefit of the doubt most of the time. I’m just so sick of people whining about their team’s rivals scoring. Also, just have to add that Oklahoma has also gotten insane scores.

I think in general something needs to change after this season because scores are too high and there is no scoring separation. Why isn’t college gymnastics judged more like JO?

Agree with your assessment that all the top teams get overscored, but I would say this season nearly every team has had high scores. Heck, Missouri was overscored tonight as an example.

NCAA scoring goes in waves. There will be seasons of crazy high scores and then it will eventually go back down and then it will eventually come back up. They want to attract a college crowd and fill their stands — high scores and perfect 10s do that.

In response to Mary the days of anger were for he lie of Miss Val (Wicked Witch of the West) that fans “grown men” were coming down and flipping off the athletes — a TOTAL LIE . Impossible at the Huntsman to approach the athletes . the seating is well above the the floor. That was the most blatant fabrication ever. She was just angry that Utah finally put together a complete meet and had the audacity to win. She was angry all night- tant pis (my favorite french expression) It was done in a way that it went viral and literally condemned Utah as a bunch of red necked hicks. She owes them a massive apology. that was the cause of the lengthy anger – totally justified. Does anyone remember the entire student section turning their backs on the Utah floor routines – total class. for the most part both schools have great and appreciative fans. there will be lapses – scold then forget. I love both schools. I am a Bruin alum but have lived in Utah for more than 12 years. I guess that makes me a “Brute” HAHA Let’s laugh at ourselves and enjoy the rest of the season – it’s almost over and then we will miss it.

I should be more specific about what I was referring to. I completely understand people who were at that meet and saw no poor sportsmanship directed at the UCLA athletes and then became upset about Val’s comments. While I was not in attendance at that meet and cannot speak to what did or did not happen, I can totally see where people would be angry that she said that if it was in fact false. Additionally, I don’t agree with her decision to talk about that even if it did happen because the tone of it almost implied that the Utah gymnastics team was in some way at fault, which clearly no team can control the reactions of a few rowdy fans (again, not saying that it did happen, this remark is addressing the theoretical situation in which it did happen). I am talking specifically about the load of tweets, Facebook comments, etc. that I saw that made no mention of Val’s comments and spoke entirely about Ross’s score on beam. I just don’t understand why there was so much anger about one overscore in a situation in which it was already known that the overscore didn’t change any results (who won the meet, who won the event, who won AA, etc.) in a season in which overscores are happening left and right. I meant my initial comment as a light-hearted joke about what I viewed to be an overreaction (considering it’s intensity and length) about one overscore. I didn’t mean it to be an angry attack on Utah, as it seems the person who responded to me interpreted it to be. I merely meant to make a joke about how overscoring seems to be happening all over the place this year, and I’d hope that any fans of any particular team would recognize this reality and recognize that their team has benefitted, but they will undoubtedly also see their opponents benefit.

Called that 10 for Skinner before she even stepped on the floor, based on the way they scored her bars and beam. I figured she’d have to have some huge, impossible-to-not-deduct-without-being-painfully-obvious error.

Again, this wasn’t an attack on Utah. Skinner had a very nice routine, and it certainly deserved a high score. However, as Spencer pointed out, it certainly wasn’t the most 10-worthy floor routine she’s done this season. I am kind of confused how she didn’t get a 10 against UCLA. If this was a 10, that certainly should’ve been. If half the 10s any gymnast has gotten this season were 10s, that certainly should’ve been. As I said about tonight’s OU meet, I think we’re hitting a point in this season of everybody gets a 10 in which people are looking around, saying: “This girl definitely should’ve had a 10 now by this season’s standards!” and then giving a 10 to those gymnasts, provided they don’t implode. I fully expect to see 10s tomorrow from Kocian on floor, Lee on beam, and maybe even Ohashi on beam, provided they don’t fall so badly they concuss themselves.

On one hand, in the case of Skinner (not so much Kocian), she may feel that she’s deserved 10s before and not gotten them, so she might feel like it’s time she finally got her 10. On the other hand, these are high level athletes and I’m sure in routines like that one and like Kocian’s 10 they know there were errors and that they were gifted a 10.

Right, that’s the thing, there’s no way that THEY don’t know! Which might make it feel less meaningful. And as much as I get your logic, it’s just….. if getting a 10 was based on having deserved them more in the past, there’d definitely be 10s for Ebee and other gymnasts. I’m okay with an unfair world where not all deserved 10s get a 10, but not with one where undeserved 10s get a 10. Specificity over sensitivity! Grump grump grump.

Yeah, I totally agree that I personally don’t think a “make-up 10” is a legitimate thing, and for that reason I don’t think Skinner should have gotten a 10 tonight. However, when you’re the athlete and you’re the one who has missed out on deserved 10s, it’s probably much easier to feel that a “make-up 10” is totally reasonable. We all have a bias that skews in our own direction. Please note, though, that I am not at all saying that Skinner actually does feel like this 10 is justified because she hasn’t gotten ones for other 10-worthy routines. Obviously, I do not know how Mykayla thinks or feels, and I’m not trying to speak for her. I’m just suggesting a possibility for how a gymnast could feel, given that many people feel a similar way in similar situations.

I’m sure they’re excited and feel some accomplishment at receiving a 10, but they probably do know on a certain level that they made errors. I think we’ve all had times where we were being evaluated on something and knew that the evaluation had been pretty generous. I can definitely recall times in high school when I wrote a paper and got an A that I knew I didn’t really deserve…

You need to re-watch (or watch for the first time) the LSU/Minnesota meet which was Corville, Jordan and Hall’s senior night. It was super obvious the first two were going to get 10s on vault before the meet even started (Rheghan actually had a significant hop back and still received a 10 and she was laughing about it on the sideline). Jordan had a small mistake as well, but not as obvious (don’t remember what).

So at least the gymnasts know how ridiculous the judging can be and get a laugh out of it.

It just kills me that Skinner has had better floor routines that easily could have gone for a 10! But like Spencer said, this one out of all of them (like def thought her UCLA meet scoring adventure meet routine was better) ?

As others have said, this is not a problem limited to one or two schools. Oklahoma, Florida, and many others have also benefitted from some very generous and creative scoring this season. More likely than not, every school is going to take a hit in nationals when the scoring gets brought down from the clouds.

Not sure how much LSU has been over scored this year. There scores are fairly consistent, between 197.600 and 197.850 give or take a tenth or two, so they may be in the best position when scores shift downward during championship scoring…

Also, if there’s a wild card it’s Alabama who has been consistent in the low 197s but everyone likely agrees they can go higher, assuming they get everyone back from injury and they actually have their top gymnasts hitting in the same meet.

It’s weird to say two SEC schools may have been the most consistent or have the most room to grow when the scoring changes but I think this season that’s the case.

Utah is in the most danger of the Top 6 to fall to a lower seed, especially if they put up a bars/beam rotation like they did tonight. I have a preference for either Boise State or Oregon State to knock them out. I like Michigan, but I think they’ll be stronger next season with the freshmen they have coming in.

I somewhat agree with you. I think OU and LSU have been the most consistent teams all season and look like they could win a title. I think UCLA has an outside shot, if and only if, their entire lineup hits lights out at Nationals. It can’t just be the stars either, Meraz, Preston, Honest, Savvidou, etc. have to hit as well. And I’m not really confident that they’ll do that.

As far as Utah, I’m conflicted. They’ve scored well, but they don’t really seem like a top tier team to me. I could see them getting upset at Nationals by a Georgia, Michigan, Denver, etc. and missing out on Super Six.

Honestly, for this year’s super six, the only locks I see are OU, LSU, and Florida. They all show the consistency that I trust they will hit and make it through. UCLA, Utah, and Alabama all have the talent that IF they hit, they will be up there in the super six, and could vy for third place (or possibly higher) finish. The problem is that none of them have shown the consistency this year, and all three are hampered by injuries.

Prelims could get very interesting with mistakes by these 4-6 teams, and there are many capable of 197 who could capitalize on it. I’m really looking forward to Nationals, it could be really interesting

@ Robin: I tend to agree, except I do think Florida is closer to the Utah, Alabama, UCLA group then they are to the OU/LSU tandem. If Florida hits and sticks on all four events then they make it, but they’ve shown vulnerability on some events this season (beam/floor) and if Baker can’t get back into the lineups – assuming she’s just being rested so she’s good to go at SECs, Regionals, etc., but… – then floor is taking a major hit.

Basically Florida needs to score through the roof on vault which is their strength (though again Baker isn’t competing lately so it’s not as strong as it could be).

It’s all over. I mean, c’mon. Let’s be real here. Everyone has been over scored if they’re in the top 25. The best six teams at the moment are the top 6 in RQS. Michigan and Denver and maaaaaybe Georgia could make a run at those six if the lower tiered ones (not OK or LSU) have issues or if the seeding works out a certain way. There’s even a world where Nebraska or Kentucky could be a spoiler. But generally speaking, the top six are the strongest teams in and out each week, regardless of independent over scores, of which all six have had multiple times.

Well LSU imploded on beam in 2015 so… IA that LSU/OU are 99.9 per cent locks for Super Six, but until LSU gets through beam at regionals and semifinals there’s always a chance they’ll leave the door open.

Not so worried about OU… they should easily qualify for Super Six and then will have to try to win going in as the “team to beat” for the first time (I believe Florida has been the team to beat in both 2014 and 2016).

@Anon: Totally agree with you that Florida was the team to beat in 2014 and 2016, which were the years OU won their championships. OU was the team to beat in 2015 and lost. In 2016 I didn’t think it was a fair expectation of Jenny to win a title in her first year, but Florida was absolutely the team with the highest scoring potential.

This year, I think OU is the best team this year but they are NOT unbeatable. I see LSU and UCLA as the next tier. LSU is capable of matching or outscoring OU on vault/floor. UCLA is capable of matching/outscoring OU on bars/beam. I know OU is known for their beam but IMO UCLA’s beam is better when they hit it.

So Auburn and Arkansas had close scores and Arkansas competed a girl on floor with only 2 passes/low start value. Insane. What is going on at Auburn this year? They have some amazingly talented athletes and should be scoring better.

Overscoring has been an issue this year, but when I look at the rankings, I think the teams are fairly ranked. Thus, the scores haven’t impacted the standings or regional placements (at least not yet). When I look at the top 12, in particular, I don’t have any huge issues with the way the teams are ranked and I don’t think the high scores have given an advantage to one team more than any other.

Spencer! You’ve let me down! After Skinner’s ridiculous beam “choreography,” I turned to my neighbor and told her I couldn’t wait to see what you’d have to say about it. But you almost seemed to enjoy it?!? Where was the epic snark I was expecting? The disdain for NCAA’s biggest narcissist? I’m disappointed.

you need to hark back to Denusia Francis and her creative choreography wobble dance wobble dance. she was a gem to watch but had more 10’s than anyone I was in SLC FOR BUSINESS AND WAS LUCKY TO GET A TICKET. At the end of the swim routine Skinner was laughing – I think it showed a fun college girl personality. It showed she could laugh at herself and not take it too seriously. She even shrugged her shoulders at the judges like “Oh Well” Cut her some slack it was really a humorous moment even a few Stanford girls (who by the way are a collective class act) had a chuckle, I think she is blossoming in the college environment and is really fun to watch.

I don’t agree. There have been a ton of teams that have had lots of overscores at lots of meets. I don’t think Utah is any worse than the rest of NCAA gymnastics. Actually, I thought last night was pretty good except for 4 routines: all of Skinner’s except vault and Rowe’s floor. I’m not even that upset about Skinner and Rowe’s floor routines because I feel like the Skinner floor score was a “make-up 10” for the ones she’s deserved and not gotten, and Rowe’s was senior night generosity. I’m not saying either of these things justifies an overscore, just that on those two routines I’m not going to lose my mind over 0.05 or whatever.